INNOVATION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND INVESTMENT: FUNDING THE FUTURE

摘要

Continuing an effort reported at the 2006 IAC, startup and established companies are joining with nonprofit organizations to form an international Space Investment Summit Coalition, dedicated to encouragement of space-related innovation, entrepreneurship, multiple-use technologies, and investment. Summit members have recognized that entrepreneurial innovation-profitably applying existing technology to meet customer needs in a marketplace-is at least as important as developing new technologies in the laboratory. The coalition is also working to encourage development of truly commercial, self-sustaining space activity involving non-government customers, rather than simply expanding government contracting". Multiple-use technologies are especially important in this context, because their profitable near-term commercialization on Earth can help fund pursuit of commercial applications in space. Because of the high risk and delayed profitability of most startup companies, early funding must often come from angel investors-wealthy individuals for whom creating a legacy of innovation is sometimes more important than near-term financial gain. Once startups have achieved initial success, larger investors, as well as major companies, may choose to become financially involved. Overall, the international coalition's dynamic synthesis of innovation, entrepreneurship, multiple-use technologies, and investment promises to become a pathfinder for funding the future of commercial space.